Pedigree Analysis: Ms First Prize Rose

This 'Rose' blossoms from a bountiful garden.

Ownership partners Johnny Trotter and Burnett Ranches have certainly found a groove in recent years.

Back in 2007, their names were partnered on a sorrel colt bred by Trotter and dubbed One Famous Eagle. The Mr Jess Perry colt tore it up at Los Alamitos during a two-year, 11-race career that saw him win the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity, Golden State Derby and Los Alamitos Super Derby, and had his owners ascending the stage to accept his award as champion 3-year-old colt.

One Famous Eagle had barely started what would quickly become an impressive early stud career at Four Sixes Ranch in Guthrie, Texas, when the partners found themselves with yet more lightning in a bottle, in the form of a filly named Miss Racy Jess. A daughter of Mr Jess Perry, she in 2010 qualified to the All American Futurity (G1) in only her third start. She won the 2011 Los Alamitos Super Derby (G1) and sent her connections into the limelight again to accept her award as the sport’s champion 3-year-old filly.

Now the partners have yet another stone-cold runner to enjoy, this one in the form of Ms First Prize Rose, winner of the $1 million Rainbow Futurity (G1). Both Trotter and Dr. Glenn Blodgett, the manager of the horse operations at the Four Sixes and Burnett Ranches, are members of the AQHA Executive Committee.

Ms First Prize Rose, a daughter of Corona Cartel, defeated stablemate Belle Helene by a nose to take the 400-yard race in :19.540. It is Ms First Prize Rose’s third win in four starts and boosts her earnings to $506,404. The race was the most classic of Quarter Horse races – the top seven finishers were separated by about a length at the wire.

Ms First Prize Rose was bred by Weetona Stanley and William Smith, and was a $170,000 purchase at the 2012 Heritage Place Yearling Sale, the second-highest price paid at that sale.

Corona Cartel continues an American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame-quality career as his daughter became his 135th stakes winner and pushed his progeny earnings above $42.5 million. The 19-year-old stallion was a Grade 1-winning runner during his racing career and, with 13 crops to race, is the sport’s No. 2 all-time sire by money earned. Owned by a syndicate, Corona Cartel stands at the Lazy E Ranch at Guthrie, Oklahoma.

Ms First Prize Rose comes directly from one of the most productive dam lines in the sport’s history. Her third dam is the Gallant Jet mare First Prize Rose, a dam of distinction and broodmare of the year. This 1976 mare produced Ms First Prize Rose’s second dam, the dam of distinction and broodmare of the year First Prize Dash, and her full brother First Down Dash, the sport’s all-time leading sire. Both horses are by the great Dash For Cash.

Ms First Prize Rose’s dam, First Carolina, is a daughter of Mr Jess Perry who won five of eight starts, including the Heritage Place Futurity (G1) and Remington Park Derby (G2) on her way to earning $415,047.

The mare is having a stunning production year – of her three 2-year-olds (all by Corona Cartel), the other two are Remington Park Oklahoma-bred Futurity (R) winner Coronado Cartel ($310,748) and Firecracker Futurity (G2) runner-up Itea ($56,881). Coronado Cartel was purchased by Reliance Ranches at the 2012 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale for $290,000, and William Smith became full owner of Itea – then named Carol On My Mind – after she was the $520,000 high seller at the Ruidoso Select sale.

First Carolina has six starters, all winners, and already has progeny earnings topping $1 million. Her second foal, Denver Pass (by Corona Cartel, $120,994), qualified to the 2011 All American Futurity (G1). The 9-year-old First Carolina has one yearling, a filly by Corona Cartel, named Ms Weetona Lafawn.

The 25-year-old First Prize Dash in her racing career was a finalist in the 1990 Heritage Place Futurity (RG1) and 1991 All American Derby (G1). She has progeny earnings of more than $2.3 million, placing
her at No. 10 on the list of all-time dams by money earned. She,
however, is tied as the all-time leading producer of Grade 1 winners,
with four. The only other mare to produce an equal number is American
Quarter Horse Hall of Famer Cherry Lake (TB). First Prize Dash is also
tied with Dashing Phoebe, Oh La Proud and The Louisiana Girl as the
all-time leading producer of stakes winners, with five. The mare's brother, American Quarter Horse Hall of Famer First Down Dash, is the sport’s all-time leading sire, with progeny earnings of $79.8 million and counting. His is an impressive record, but is even more stunning when one considers it is nearly double the No. 2 all-time leading sire, Corona Cartel.